Getting Personal | Creative Identity and Blogging

November 17, 2016

Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I shared on here, hasn’t it? I’ll confess: as a rather private and introverted person, I’ve long avoided talking publicly about any struggles or general issues weighing on my mind. But it’s time to get personal. I want to share with you all what has kept me from putting my thoughts on paper (or the screen, rather), and so today’s post focuses on creativity identity and blogging. Specifically, I’ve been struggling a lot with my personal creative identity. Ok ok – that sounds awfully lofty and romantic, but when it comes down to differentiating yourself in a sea of so many other talented creatives, all of it does make a difference.

Not only does one’s aesthetic matter, but it also shapes personal voice and branding. If you follow along my Instagram adventures, you’ll see that my focus is on photography and narrative-telling visuals. As much as I want to translate that same voice into my blog content, that is difficult if the blog serves a different focus (conveying information vs. painting visual stories). Think newspapers and art galleries – two diametrically opposed platforms and voices. Here’s another fun fact: I’m a type-A perfectionist, constantly stressed about details and willing to wait and try again however many times to achieve the perfect results. But this is my first step in shedding that persona.

When I set out on this blogging journey, I was more focused on the latter. My photography would tell the stories and take readers on a visual journey. (A caveat to this: by no means do I consider myself a photographer. It would be a disservice to those who have poured years and countless hours of effort into learning their profession. I am however happy to say that I am a passionate, budding photography enthusiast!) But in the process, I’ve also come to realize that I love sharing personal tips and finds that might help anybody at all, even if just one individual.

And so, it feels like I am at a crossroads. How can I curate a blog that intends to focus largely on visuals but still conveys practical, pertinent information? It’s certainly not impossible as proven by other blogging OG’s such as Chriselle Lim or Sincerely Jules, but I also don’t have a team of assistants, photographers, or graphic designers at my disposal. As someone who has no creative background or training, I have long been frustrated by my artistic shortcomings.

But you know what? Who cares?

Going forward, I’m determined to share content regardless of how perfect or imperfect it may be. As long as it is content that is my best work, I should not – no, will not – be afraid of how it affects my brand. Because inherent in our voices and aesthetic is a long-term vision of where we see ourselves one day. This vision unconsciously shapes our endeavours (or at least I hope so!), and ultimately all we can do is believe in that and simply try our best.

For everyone who follows me and my blog, you may see a photo or a blog post that doesn’t fit in here or there. Perhaps likewise for yourself! And that’s okay.

So here’s to experimenting and trying new things. Here’s to saying – let’s not be afraid to break the mold and stand out. Cue the “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits” speech. Because Steve Jobs was right about that. The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, to try something new, are the ones who do.

Finally, thank you all for following along and continuing to do so! I look forward to sharing my journey now and in the future with you all!

P.S. You can shop any of the must-have items that I keep on my desk in the widget below. Happy shopping!

17 Comments

Thank you for sharing this post. You are a beautiful writer, artist, photographer and storyteller. Your photos are perfect and they are dreamy. Your words inspire. Whatever you intended to achieve with this post, you did. I love following you on Instagram and am definitely excited to see more on your blog. xoxo, Christinehttp://dailykongfidence.com/

Good on you for making that declaration! Perfectionism is a nasty beast. I feel like it stops you in your tracks and holds you back. I try to let it go as best that I can, without losing the control and dedication to what I am trying to convey. I wish you all the best with your efforts and experimentation!
xx Jenellehttp://www.inspiringwit.com/

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this! I’m also an introvert and I find myself unwilling or scared to put myself out there, while struggling to create an identity for myself to stand out. It definitely is conflicting at times.
However I do agree on your main point – honestly who cares right? We should post/write/do what we want because at the end of the day it’s our platform and it’s how we creatively express ourselves. I always enjoyed your content and never thought “oh that was out of place”, so we definitely should do what we want to 🙂

Loved how you put this post together. I also find myself as being an introvert, but I do try to get out of my shell every now and then, haha. Also there is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist, the only problem about that is that it can get really tiring at a point. Have a lovely week near your loved ones! <3

I love this post, because I feel it the same way. I used to think about all these things too, but I came to the conclusion, that personal blog is really the place, where we can do whatever we feel and that’ s the beauty of it. I always enjoy your beautiful photography and writing style!